Boy Recovers After Falling In Motel Pool

SANFORD — A 15-month-old boy was in fair conditon at Orlando Regional Medical Center after he was pulled from a motel swimming pool Thursday night.

Ronnie Leger Jr. was sleeping in his parents' room at the Fountain Lodge motel about 7 p.m.. His parents walked next door and the youngster apparently woke up and wandered outside into a heavy rain, said Sanford Police Chief Steve Harriett.

About three minutes later the child's mother returned, found him missing and alerted his father, Ronald Leger Sr., who found the boy floating in the motel swimming pool.

Leger, who told police a gate protecting the pool had been left open, pulled his son out of the water. A bystander, James Daily, began mouth-to- mouth resuscitation.

Sanford police were called and Officer Gary Harrell, who was eating at a nearby restaurant, heard the dispatch and ran to help. Harrell took over emergency procedures on the boy.

The boy began breathing on his own and was taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford. Later Thursday night he was moved to ORMC's pediatrics intensive care unit. Doctors said Friday the child should be released today.